I’ve worked for Sanders/BAE Systems for over 47 years. I’ve been blessed to have 20 members of my extended family work there – including my father and sons. Many family members work there today, as I do. This wonderful company has had more than its fair share of great leaders in the past and today. Walt Havenstein was the best of the best.

Walt came to us when we were in trouble and needed inspired leadership. Walt delivered. He gave us a clear vision, mission and strategy we could all understand and follow. He got to know thousands of employees in the company and helped us do better than we ever thought we could. Under Walt’s stewardship, the company went on an amazing run of high performance and growth that is legendary in our industry. While achieving such impressive results, Walt remained humble and treated everyone – at all levels of the organization – with courtesy, dignity and respect.

As a lifelong Democrat, you might think that voting for Walt presents a dilemma for me. It doesn’t. I’m with Walt because I know he is a principled, results-oriented leader who always acts with purpose and integrity. He is everything that today’s self-serving career politicians who are saddled with single-digit approval ratings are not.

I’ve seen many leaders come and go in business and public service. We have a refreshing opportunity to elect the best-of-the-best on Nov. 4. We may not get a chance like this again any time soon.

Bob McCarthy

Merrimack

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